Process of purifying spirits and apparatus therefor.



J. 13.. CARROLL. PROCESS OF PURIFYING SPIRITSMID APPARATUS 'IH'IHEFOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 26, 190B Patented Aug. 30, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wan-1mm J. E. CARROLL. PROCESS OF PURIFYING SPIRITS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

APFLIOA'IION FILED B13026, 1908. 968,833 Patented Aug"; 30, 1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

s AgnuT orrios.

hurrah strap JAMES E. CARROLL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PROCESS OF PURIFYING SPIRITS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.

M v INiSQS SiQL Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug; 1910.

I Application filed December 26, .1908. Serial No. 469,318.

To all whom it my concern: may be that a portion of the others, esters or I Be it known that I, JAMES E. CARROLL, a aldehydes of about the same boiling point citizen of the United States, residing at as'alcohol are converted into substances of London, England, have invented certain different boiling point or it may be merely new and useful Improvements in Processes that their flavor is simply ameliorated. In

of Purifying Spirits and Apparatus Thereapplying this method to this purpose, I

for. of which the following is a specification. preferably treat alcoholic vapors which are This invention relates to processes of 'puri-. tolerably strong and pure, such asthe va-'-- 'Fying spirits and apparatus therefor; and p re from a rectifymg' still in which the it comprises a method of purilying distilled ma or portion, or substantially all, ofthe v spirits in which such spirits in a compara fusel oil has been abstracted." In the use tivcly pure state and inthe form of'concenof the ordinary Coffey still for-exam 1e, trated vapors are commingled with air and I a s r ct e vapors m t e i f g exposed to a relatively high temperature in column after-the removal of'the high 011-; the presence of and in thorough contact ing constituentsor fqsel 0il,.mix.them with with, heated metal walls, such vapors being heated air in one ormore'portions, pass the preferably drawn from a rectifying still, mixture through superheated narrow tubes,

treated and returned to such reotiiying still; and r tllnrthe same to t e r ctifying 0 and it further comprises an apparatus susumn for the removal of aldehyde or low ceptible of utilization .in the described boiling constituents. The rectifying column method, such apparatus embracing a still for this purpose should be different from the 7.5- capable of forming and delivering comparausual type, being modified by the insertion tively pure, strong alcoholic vapors, a suof an imperforate dia hragm at a suitable perheating apparatus capable of heating such point in-itshei'ght. .Be ow'this diaphragm I vapors to a comparatively high temperature tap the column witha vapor line leading to I and an aerator, such superheating apparatus a superheater'andabove it I tap it again taking vapors from such still and superwith a vapor line leadingback from the heating such vapors ,admixedwith air and uperheater Toprev nt nterference with returnin the treated mixture to the still; the normal c urse f distillation in the colall as more fully hereinafter set forth and 'umn, preferably I ass the outgoing and reas claimed. turn vapor lines t rough a heat-exchanger In another and co ending application, so that the 'returning vapors may be deliv- Ser. No. 461,578, filed Rov. 17, 1908, I have cred at about the temperature normal to described and claimed a method of treating them at the oint in the stillwhence the distilled li uors for the purpose of maturing are taken and to which they are returned? or aging t e same, such method consisting By the use of this precaution I am enabled .90

in superheating the crude alcoholic vapors to take the vapors from'the still "through the from a still, and referably the middle porsuperheater and back to the still without in- 'tion of the distillate only, in commixture terfering with the normal operation of the,

Withheated air, the mixed air and vapors still, a s-acolu'mn'still,

being exposed in the form of relatively nar- Inthe superheater t-he air-,vapor-mixture row streams to the infiuencelof heated metal is preferably. subjected to'a temperature of *walls, whereby a thorough "oxidation and about 300 F., though this temperature may maturingof suchvapors is obtained. I range 20 degrees or 50 above or below this have now discovered that this method of point, A temperaturefofaboutq 00, is,

treatment is also applicable to the purer al however, usually desirable, In the supercoholic vapors delivered by rectifying stills, heater, the mixture shouldbe .subjected to and that by removing the vapors from a heathin the formbfstreamsof-relatively middle portion of such a still, treating them narrow diameter, say about lm inch, inxtub a in an analogous manner and returning to 'ing 'of appropriatediameter; The, tubing.

the still for further treatment a much im-' .inay be,'and preferably is, of copa er, as this proved alcohol is obtained. As to thenametal combinesboth'a good degree-of reture of theactionI cannot say and content sistancerto the. action of the hot; air-vapor, myself with noting the results obtained. It mixture and a good catalyticactioh or wall action in promoting interaction between the into actual contact with the heated metalwvalls. It is for this reason, largely, that narrow tubing must be used since with wider tubing there is no certainty that every portion of the mixture will come into actual contact with the hot metal. In mixtures of air'and vapor, particularly when heated, it 1 is difiicult to procure thorough admixture and to secure positive contact of every portion of such mixture, as a mixture, with the walls of thecontaining vessel if the vol me of such mixture be large. As the voluui of vapor cominq from any still of commeii'cial size must 0 necessity be rather large, I therefore preferably subdivide the mass, of vapor,.after admixing it with air (and this air should be hot to secure as good admixture as practicable), into a plurality of small streams, 0801') being transmittcd through a metal tube of appropriate size, and I remix andrcsubdividc at intervals in the progress of such mixture through the apparatus, thereby securing an intiuiate and positive coniniingling as well as a positive contact of every portion of the hodyavith a hot metal wall at some .point in its course. The air may be. intrmlucal at a plurality of points in such coursc through the apparatus. In the accompanying illustratioind have shown, rather.diagrammatically, certain embodiments of apparatus susceptible of cmployment inthc dcscribcd process.

In this showing: Figure 1 is a vicux partly in vertical section. of a com )lc'te apparatus; 49 and Fl 7. 2 is a view at right angles to the view 0 Fig. 1, showing the su )crhca tcrand accessory parts on a larger scale. In Fig. i, largely for the sake of simplicity. the still and rcctiiicr shown as'cmthose of a simple. old-type (oli'cy still. In

this showing. 1 is the analyzer. dcphlcp'matoi" .or still,' providcd wit-h the usual perforated plates-2, cups 3. tubes 4.'stcaui oryapor inlet 5 and wash outlet 6. jElcmcut 7 is the rectifying still fed at its'base witha'lc o holic vapors .from thc dephl'ematort'hroufih vajpoi line 8 in the usual way. Interna y. 5 itfis alsoprovidcd with the-usual periothe deplil egi'nator and'with a spiral preheater pi e 9. extending from top to bottom and supp led with crude liquid by pump {0. \In one'pointrhowevcr it dificr's from the ordinaryv type -it bcingprovidcd with an iinperforate septum 11 extending lltlOSStllu e still-and dividing the column into upper and lower sections. The prchcater pipe extends through t-his septum. but there is no com- 65, munication past the diaphragm between up ployed with thc supei hcater, are shown as rated plates, cups and tubes like those 'of per and lower parts of the column iiitci i ally, Shouldsuch communication for any reason he desired, it maybe afforded by the still above the septum. Alcohol line 17 leads alcohol from a pointimmediatcly above the septum to and through a cooler and condenser 18. Aldchydesand low-boiling bodies leave the rectifier through vapor line 19 which passes to and through a condenser 20. Yalvcd outlet 21 at the base of the rccbodies, such as fuscl oil.

tifier allows the removal oflngh-boiling,

The'superheatcr, 15. is shown in more detail in .Fig'.".2. As there illustrated, it comprises fivc similar casings. respectively lettci'cd A, B, (l. D and E, though there may be any numbcr. Each of these elements consists of a long tubular shell having a header at each end. respectively .22 and 23, and forming a steam chamber, supplied from steam line 24-. t'hcrebetwccn. The

steam chambcrs are provided with ancx haust line 25. In order tofiuaintain sub stantially t-hc samc'temperature iiiuill, the chambcrs.'cach is providcd with a separate connection to the stcam and the exhaust lines as shown. though other connections may be cinploycd. Passing between the headers in .cach shell is a tube iicst" 26, the tubesbciua of com'parativclv small diameter. prcicral'ilv not ovcr an inch, and being ina(le .-prcfcrablv of copper, or internally surfaced with copper.

municatcs with a mixing chamber 27. \Vith" this chamber also communicates an air pipe 2% preferably ending thercin in a rose or other form of distributer,'29, and supplied with air undcr pressure from a suitable source (not. shown). This air pipe passes through a steam chamber 30, which may be. as shown. supplied; with steam from the cxhaustlinc from the super licatcrsj Manifolds 531,311. allow separate introduction of hot air into the several SllPQIfll'LfllPlS if desircd. Beyond the-steam ,cl'ia'mber in each su )ei'licatei'.'tlic tubcs open into mixing chambers 32, couucctcd by uptakcs Safety valve iilapi'cssure gage 35, 'iyi'omcte'r 36 mom'cten37 iii the rcturii vapor line (14) are of the usual construction.

'llie vapor line 13 from the rectifier com-105 in the steam line, and lll8I'-' lu the-operation of the dcscribed struc-- tur'c, crude alcoholic liquid-is sent through by) becoming heated passes downward and assist-mg in' maintainings the temperatures in "the rectifying 'columirat the proper-points: Passing into steam introduced at The alcoholic vapor the dephlegmator passes downward through the shelves in the manner customary in column stills, yielding alcoholic vapors at the head of the column and a watery residue at the base Heating in this still is done by the base through 5. is delivered into the base of the rectifier through 8 and passes upward, becoming steadily more concentrated in the manner usual in column stills. Its progress upw'ard is, however, interrupted by the imperforate septum. It for any rea-' son it be desired to run the rectifier in the ordinary way, the vapors may be by-passed through 12, several such ,by-passes being provided if desired, and ,the column then opera tlcs in ,the ordinary manner, alcohol and a cohol vapor being removed above the septum by 17 while aldehydes and low-boiling bodies progress u ward to vapor line 19. 'Operating according to the present process, however, the by-pass, 12 is closed and through, each portion of such body tube nest Lisa.

the rich alcohol vapons below the septum are taken away by 13, pilSGd-;- thl'0ugh heatintercha. ;nger 14, whereby theyarel ated, and are then introduced her 27, where they are thoroughly mixed into mixing chamwith hot air from 28. The. mixed body of air and vapor thusformed is subdivided into a plurality of small-diameter streams in the pipe-nest and passes forward therecoming into effective contact with the heated metal walls. This effective Contact is very important since the catalytic or Wall action of the metal walls insures effective reaction between the air and vapor in a way not possible between air and vapor simply heated together for the same period of time. It is for this reason-that the tubes of the should preferably be of copper, or internally copper-faced, copper having a desirable catalytic action for this purpose as well being able to withstand the corrosive action of the hot mixture. The temperature maintained may be as desired, but generally is preferably kept about 30091 margin of, say, 20 either way from that temperature. Steam of 500 to 700 I 1, expanded to a pressure of about 7 or 8 pounds, may be employed as the heating agent.

Passing through the tubes, the plurality of small streams of mixed air and vapor are remingled in chamber 32 at the other end of the superheater, and pass upward through uptake 33, being thoroughly mingled in so doing, and thence passin a reverse direction through the. tube nest of the next superimosed superheater,the body of the mixture eing' again subdividedinto a plurality-of streams and exposed. to effective contact with the metal walls,

, shown.'

thereby walls,

should be of small diameter and,

or within a There is a tendency to.

stratify in mixtures going through-a current is thoroughly remingled since in such reversal of direction ot flow, lower strata tend to-become upper and the reverse. If desired, air may be mixed with the va ors portionwise by the use of the mam 'olds The pyrometer in the steam line and thethermoi'neter in the outgoing vapor line enable a very accurate control of temperatures.

Since the outgoing mixture of air and vapor leaving the superheaterhas a temperature of about 300, which is far above any temperature prevailing in the rectifier, the mixture must be cooled before re-lntroduction thereinto, and this is very conven iently effected by heat-exchanger 14:; which to about the right temperature.

Returning to the rectifier, the low boilipg constituents are removed in the usual way in the trays of the column above the septum and the concentrated, now cleansmelling alcohol is 'removed by 1 7. As the quantity of the impurities to be removed is apparently often increased, it is advantageous to have the upper portion of the column above the septum somewhat higher than is usual.

In the described method of'treatment, the alcohol is first concentrated in the dephlegmator, freed of 'fuseloil in the lower section of the rectifier, superheated in contact with air and 'atalytically-acting metal and returned to the rectifier 'to be freed of aldehydes, etc.

What I claim is 1. The process of producing spirits which comprises distilling alcoholic liquids to produce concentrated alcoholic vapors low in fusel oil, admixing the hot vapors with air, reheating the mixture in such manner as to bring every portion of the mixture .into positive contact with a hot metal-Wall and thereafter continuing thedistillation to form pui'c spirits.

2. The process of producing spirits which comprises distilling alcoholic liquids to produce camccntratml alcoholic vapors low'in will automatically bring the mixture back luscl oil,'adn'iixing the hot ,vapors with air tot'orm a mixed body,

subdividing the mixturc into a plurality of small streams, re-

heating each such stream in contact with a metal wall, thereafter reuniting the streams and continuing the distillation to form pure spirits.

The process of Y producing spirits which comprises distilling alcoholic liquids to pro-.

duce concentrated alcoholic vapors low-in fusel oil,a dmixing'the hot vapors with air to form amixed body, subdividing the mixture into a plurality of small streams, re-

a I i mixingwith air and stream in contact withla at a temperature of about stantially free from uniting the streams and continuing the distillation to form pure spirits. v

5. The process of. which comprises distilling alcoholic spirits in a column still to produce rich vapors substantially free from fusel oil, intcrce ting the vapors froma mid-point in the stil adreheating temperature, and returning the mixture so treated to the still for further distillation.

(i. The process of roducing pure spirits which comprises distilling alcoholic spirits ,in a column still to producev rich vapors substantially .free from fusel oil,'interce ting the vapors from a midpoint in the stil admixing with air-and dividing into a plu rality of small streams, reheating each such stream in contact with a hot metal wall, reunitiu the streams and returning the treate tillation'.

a The process of producing pure spirits which comprises dist lling alcoholic spirits in a column still to produce rich vapors subfusel oil, interce tin the vapors from a midoint in the still acl mixing with air and ividing into a plurality of small streams, reheating each. such 300- F., and-re: turmng the treated mixture to a still for further distillation.

8. The process of producing pure spirits which comprises distilling alcoholic spirits in a column still to produce rich vapors substantially free from-fuscl oil, interceptingthe Y lationship to returning vapors,

vapors at a mid-point in the still, passing through aheat-interchanger in thermal re admixing with air, reheating to a. higher temperature ther distil and returning the mixture so treated to the still through said heat-interchangr for furation. fr

9'. The process of which comprises .distllling alcoholic spirits in a column stillto produce rich vapors substantially free from fusel oil, intercepting the vapors at a mid-point in the still, pass- -in through a heat-interc'hgnger in thermal re ationship to retur ning vapors,admixing with air, reheating in positive contact with metal walls maintained at about F.,

producing spirits which producing pure spirits to a higher.

mixture to a still for further diso l movmg alco hot metal wall keptprovided producing purespirits tubes.

ceases and returning'the mixture treated the still through said heat-interchanger for fury ther distillation. w I 7 10. The process of producing pure spirits which comprises distilling'alcoholic spirits in a column still to produce rich vapors substantially free, from fusel oil, intercepting the' vapors at a mid-point in the still, passing through 'a-heat-interchanger in thermal relationship to returning vapors, admixing with air andsubdividing into'a plurality of small streams, reheating each such stream in positive contact with a hot metal ,wall,"

reuniting the streams 'and' returning the mixture 'so treated to the still through said heat-interchanger for further distillation.

11. The process of producing pure. spirits which comprises dist lling alcoholic spirits in a column still to produce rich vapors suh= stantiallj free from fusel oil, intercepting the vapors at a mid-point in the still, passing through a heat-interchanger in thermal relationship to returning vapors, admixing with air and subdividing into a plurality of small streams, reheating each such streamin positive contact with a hot metal wall ma1ntained at a temperature of about 300 F.-,'

reuniting the streams and returning the mixture so treated to thestill through said heat-interchanger for further distillation 12.; In an alcohol treating-apparatus, the combination of a column stil having an imperforate se means for 'admixing'such vap'orswith air and super-heating, and means for returning tum therein with means for reolic vapors below each septum,

such septum, and means for aerating, superheating and returning such vapors toa point above such septum, such latter meansincluding a heat-interchanger adapted to heatoutgoing vapors and cool ingomg vapors. 14. In an alcohol trqatmgapparatus, the combination of a-column-st ll with. a recti-' fyingcolumn still,-said rectifying still beiuat a point intermediate'its top and base with means for intercepting the current of risingalcoholic vapors, means for removmg, aerating and super-heating the intercepted vapors-and'l'neans for returning the treated vapors to the still above such point. 15. Arectify ing still provided with means for intercepting and removing'alcoholic vapors rising therethrough,-aeratingand' sin per-heating suchvapors and returning the treated vapors to'.the still atia point above the point-9f intereeptioi ch means includ-" V ring a steam-heatedsuperheater provided c of rcliitifvelysrhall parallel with a plurality ,16. A rectifying still having means for intercepting and removing alcoholic vapors ascending therethrough and for superheating such vapors'in admixture with air and for returning the aerated and treated vapors thereto above the point of interception for further fractionation.

17. The combination with a column still of a superheater, means in the still for intering means for intercepting the current of alcoholic vapors ascending therethrough with a superheater having pipe connections around such means adapted to withdraw and return vapors to said still, said superheater being provided with means for aerating vapors passin therethrough.

19. n an alcohol treating apparatus, a column still, means for intercepting the current of alcoholic vapors ascending in such sostill; a superheater provided with a plurality of pipe nests and mixing de ices, means for heating said pipe nests, means for heating air, and connections around such intercepting means adapted to withdraw vapors from saidstill, produce a' mixture of said vapors with hot air, transmit the same through the super-heater and thence back to i the still. I

20. In an alcohol treating ap aratus, a concentrating column still, a recti ying still, means for delivering alcoholic vapors from the concentratingstill into the rectifying still, a super-heater, means for cutting the communication between the base and top of said still, means for withdrawing vapors from a point below such means in said rectifying still, means for admixing said vapors with heated air and transmitting the mixture through the superheater, and means for returning,tl1e treated mixture to the rectifying still at a point above the pointfi'pf j withdrawal and above the point where the communication between the baseand Qhe 'top of the'still is intercepted. lntestimon-y whereof I afiix mycsignature, in'presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. CARROLL. Witnesses:

. James H. TRACY, v W. HANNIGAN. 

